President Ramaphosa calls for people-centred justice systems

Detailed summary

President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of justice systems that are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of ordinary people, warning that justice that…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of justice systems that are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of ordinary people, warning that justice that is inaccessible, delayed or reserved for the privileged undermines democracy.

The President addressed the International Conference on Access to Justice which kicked off at the Sun City Convention Centre in the North West on Thursday.

He emphasised the need to close the gap between the constitutional promise of justice and the lived experiences of ordinary people.

“Justice that is inaccessible is justice that is denied. And justice that is delayed, corrupted or reserved for the privileged undermines democracy itself,” President Ramaphosa said.

The conference is being held under the theme: Strengthening People-Centred Justice Systems: Deepening Democracy and brings together representatives of governments, the judiciary, international institutions, the legal profession and civil society from across the world.

President Ramaphosa noted that while South Africa will next month commemorate 30 years since the signing of its democratic Constitution, the existence of constitutional rights does not automatically guarantee that people could exercise them.

“A person may have the right to equality and yet experience discrimination. A person may have the right to dignity and yet endure violence and humiliation.

“A person may have the right to access the courts and yet be unable to afford a lawyer, travel to a courthouse or navigate complicated legal procedures,” the President stated.

He highlighted that the challenge is to ensure that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution translate into meaningful protection and redress for ordinary people.

Opening of the article, excerpted from SAnews. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.